Coin detector



Aug. 30. 1927.

M. F. KRAUS COIN DETECTOR Filed Feb. 29.11924 2 Sheets-.5119 1 IHI M. F. KRAUS COIX DETECTOR 2 Sheets-Sh 2 Filed Feb. 29. 1924 gi /V A? Patented Aug. 30, 19 27.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS I. KRAUS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MICHAEL PnnCIAnosco AND JAMES BOSINIA.

Com DETECTOR.

Application filed February 29, 1924. Serial no. 695,909.

This invention relates to coin detectors and more particularly to devices for detecting and eliminating spurious coins or slugs from coin operated vending machines and the like.

The object of the invention is toprovide a practical coin detecting device, capable of detecting all forms of slugs that are commonly used by persons with the intention of operating'a vending machine to obtain merchandise without payment therefor.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Y j Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a coin controlled operating mechanism suitable for vending machines with the detect-- ing mechanism connected therewith.

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the same parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section to show the construction; I

V Figure 4 is a view in vertical section taken on line H of Figure 3; t

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a view 'in' elevation of the parts for ejecting a coin.

In describing the device embodyin the invention, the. principal parts only 0 the coin controlled operating mechanism have been illustrated, it being understood that such mechanism forms a complete unit which may be installed in any vending machine or prepayment apparatus, in which the depositing of a coin sets the parts so that the machine will function by pressure applied to a handle or lever.

Thus, in Figures 1 and 3, A represents a fixed frame or casing having a laterally opening coin slot 1, and forming the opening to a passage through which the'coin travels in a generally downward direction by gravity, and B, is a vertically movable bar, passing through the casing A, and adapted to be moved downwardly through a limited distance by the pulling down on a hook 2, forming a part of a casting 3, attached to the bar B below the casing A. An arm 4 projects laterally from the casting 3, to which is attached one end of a coil spring 5 extending vertically upward an secured at its etherend to some fixed oint,

the coin slot 1, although in Figure The casing A consists of two plates 7 and 8 screwed together, the former having a vertical channel 7 (Figure 5) in which the bar B travels. These plates form the coin slot 1, which lies in a plane of setfrom the bar B,so that the inner face thereof forms one. side of the coin passage indicated by S in Figure 3, and extending in a general vertical direction I through the casing'A. Extending laterally from the plate? of the casing is an arm 9, to which is attached a permanent horse-shoe magnet 10, arranged withits poles terminating adjacent the edge of the bar B, and opposite and slightly below the coin slot'l. A screw 11 holds the magnet [in place, and also supports a leaf spring 12, extending toward the casing and serving a purpose presently to be pointed out.

Secured to the upper end portion of the bar B is a plate 13, extending perhaps one quarter of the length of the bar, and having rack teeth 13 cut along its back edge and just below and above, the teeth, a notch 13*, and a notch 13 respectively. The lower edge of the plate 13, in the normal position of the bar extends transversely just above 3 it is shown as moved part way across the slot, the parts being shown therein with the bar at the start of its downward movement.

Mounted on the plate 7 of the casing is a hinged dog '14, co-acting with said rack teeth and held'in engagement with said teeth by a 'coilsprin 15. At the upper limit of movement of the bar the dog engages the lower notch 13" and similarly at the lower-limit it engages the upper notch 13, the purpose of the dog being to lock the bar against retractive movement in the opposite direction, once its downward stroke has begun. In otherwords, ratchet action necessitates the movement of the bar throughout its entire down stroke, before it can be returned by the spring 5, to its starting position,'and this'to guard against the operation of the machine more than'once, with a single coin.

The plate 8 of the 'casing,'which is the one onthe near side, as shown in the drawings, has an integral arm 16, extending clownwardly along the bar, and provided midway between its ends with a rounded portion 16 d havin a circ'illarihole 17 therein, At the end of the arm is a guide lug 13% near the upper portien er; the plate;

is an outwardly swingable arm 18 having its upper end pivoted between a pair of integral lugs 19, 19, on the plate and on a pivot pin 20.

This arm extends downwardly along the side of the plate 8 and its extension arm 16, terminating in an arrow head 21, shaped to form a locking shoulder 21 facing upwardly and toward the bar B, (Figure 2). Midway between the ends of the pivoted arm 18 is a screw stud 22. having a pointed inner end 22'" registering with the hole 17 inthe arm 16 of the plate 8. An adjusting nut 23 holds the stud against turning and regulates the amount the pointed end. projects into and through the hole 17. Just below the upper end of the arm 18 bears the end of the spring 12 already described, its function being to exert a yielding pressure on the arm, holding it inwardly against the plate, and the arrow head 21, against the bar B.

Extendingalong the front or right hand edge (Figure l) of the plate 8, is another leaf spring 24, fixed thereto by means of a screw 25 passing-through its upper end, and arranged edgewise to the face of the bar B. This spring is bent in a more or less irregular form, but fol'lows downwardly along the edge of the plate 8 and arm 16, bearing against the rounded portion 16 of the latter and terminating in an outwardly curved end portion just short of the end of the arm 16. Near the lower end of the spring 24 and in its inner edge formed a notch 24 (Figure 4.) In the positions of the bar as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 6, the lower end of the spring is substantially in alignment with a pin 26-fixed to the bar B, and so located that in the initial or starting position it stands within the notch 24 (see Figure As the bar moves down the pin passes on the outside of the spring thereby flexing it inwardly to the position shown in Figure 6, and on. the upward stroke, the pin passes on the inside'of the spring flexing outwardly until it engages the notch 24 in the starting position of the bar. The flexing of the spring assists in the ejecting of the coins, as will be presently described.

The foregoing practically completes the de scription of the device with exception of sevcral less important parts, which can be referred to in connection with the operation. The principle upon which the device operates is essentially as follows: The device is set to function when certain coins are deposited, as, for instance, one cent pieces. By functioning is meant that the bar B can be pulled down its full travel whereby the merchandise is discharged from the machine. On the other hand, a slug in the form of a metal disc thinner than a coin, or of steel or iron, or a slug having a hole in its center, will not permit the bar to be pulled down, and hence no merchandise will be discharged. The

locking action takes place between the arrow head 21 at the lower end of the arm 18, and a square notch 27, cut in the rear edge of the bar 15 with a portion of the bar just below the notch offset toward the arm formng a hump or cam 28 in the path of the arrow head 21 (Figure 4).

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the bar B is in the position in which themachine is ready to be operated by depositing a coin C in the slot 1, it being noted that the arrow head bears against the hump 28, below the notch 27 (Figure 2). Now, if a one cent piece is dropped into the coin slot 1, it will fall by gravity into the coin passage S, between the inner face of the bar and theopposite inner face of the plate 8. The coin passage leads past the screw stud 22 with its pointed end projecting into the path of the coin, said stud being set so that there is just space enough between the end of the stud and the face of the bar toallow the genuine coin C to pass therebetween and to be held in that position between thespring 24 and a lug 29 formed integral with the plate 7 just opposite the spring 24, as shown in Figure 3. The presence of the coin shifts the arm 18 outwardly, a distance sufficient to prevent the locking of the arrow head 21 with the notch 27 which otherwise would be pressed inwardly and lock the baras it is pulled down by the hook 2. Thus the coin acts to prevent the locking of the bar until the notch 27 has been carried downwardly past the arrow head, whereupon thecoin is ejected, this being accomplished by a pin 29,

on the bar, which forces the coin past the spring 24 and is diverted or kicked laterally from the coin passage and rearwardly and into a chute or receptacle providedfor the purpose. In the meantime the arrow head 21 has passed beyond the notch so that the bar is free to move its full stroke, thus discharging the merchandise.

It will now be seen that unlessa coin of standard thickness is detected by the end of the stud 22, the spring 12 is free to throw the arm 18 inwardly so that the arrow head 21 engages the notch 27 and the bar is locked against further movement or in the position shown in Figure 3. This explains why the machine cannot be operated without depositing the proper coin, and why a spurious coin will not operate the machine. In the case of a thin coin the arrow head will not be raised sulficiently topermit complete downward stroke of the bar B and will be ejected upon the upward stroke of said bar. A coin smaller than a cent will fall through the passage S without being retarded by the stud and will have no more efl'ect than if no disc had been deposited in the machine.

Again, take a steel or iron slug without a hole, as indicated by E, Figure 3. Being of a material attracted by a magnet it will be immediately held from dropping down the passage S by the magnet 10, and as the bar is pulled down the pin 29, which is above the magnet in starting position carries the slug around the lower pole ofthe magnet and ejects it from the rear as shown,

. 22. Due, however, to the hole, the stud passes through the hole (see Figures 3 and 4:) allowing the arm 16 to be pressed inwardly, a distance suflicient to effect the locking of the arrow head 21 with the notch 27.

Manifestly, the bar cannot be pulled down further, so that on releasing the handle 2, it returns to its starting position under the action of the spring 5, and in this movement the'leaf spring 2 1 is flexed outwardly by contact with the pin 26, and then released suddenly against the slug, throwing it outwardly through the opening at the back of the coin passage S.

Having thus set forth the purpose, construction and mode of operation of the device embodying the invention, I claim:

1. In a coin detector the combination of a casing provided with a coin passage, a bar passing through-said casing and adapted to be depressed to operate the machine, a looking member mounted on said casing and yieldably held in position to engage a notch in said bar, to prevent the depression of said bar, a coin detecting stud carried by saidlockingmember and having an end extending laterally within said coin passage, means for retarding a coin opposite the end of said stud, whereby the genuineness of the coin is detected by the position of the stud in contact therewith, and the consequent shifting of said locking member to permit the functioning of said bar, andmeans actuated by said bar for ejecting a coin.

2. In a coin detector the combination of a casing provided with a coin passage and a delivery slot thereto, a bar passing through said casing and endwise movable therein, an arm pivotally mounted on Said casing and depending lengthwise of said bar, a locking member at the free end of said arm adapted for locking engagement with said bar, a spring acting on said arm to hold said locking memberin position to engage said bar, and a coin detecting stud carried by said arm and projecting through said casing into said coinpassage, means for momentarily retarding a coin opposite the end of said stud, whereby the genuineness of said coin is detected by its thickness at the end of said stud and the resulting displacement of the latter and the shifting of said locking member out of the locking position, and means actuated by said bar for ejecting a coin from said passage.

3. In a coin detector, the combination of a casing provided with a coin passage and a delivery slot thereto, a bar passi through said casing and endwise movable t erein, an arm pivotally mounted on said casing and depending lengthwise of said bar, a locking member at the free end of said arm adapted for locking engagement with said bar, a spring acting on said arm to hold said locking member in position to lock said bar, a pointed stud carried by said arm and extending into said coin passage below said 1 slot, and means for retarding a coin opposite said stud, the coin having a predetermined thickness of metal being detected between the end of'said stud and the wall of the passage whereby the locking member is shifted into bar releasing position by a genuine coin, and means actuated by said bar for ejecting a coin from said passage.

7 0O 4. In a coin detector, the combination of a,/

casing having a vertical coin passage, a vertical endwise reciprocating bar passing through said casing and forming one side of said coin passage, a locking member pivotally mounted on said casing and adapted for locking engagement with a notch formed in said bar, a spring acting to shift said locking member into said notch in the movement of said'bar to operate the machine, a coin detecting stud mounted on said locking member, and provided with a pointed end extending transversely into said coin pas sage, a predetermined distance from said bar, means for retarding a coin in said passage with its central portion opposite the end of said stud, said stud being moved outwardly against said spring by genuine coins, to shift said locking member into bar releasing position, and means actuated by said bar for ejecting a coin from said passage. I

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of February, A. D., 1924.

MORRIS F. KRAUS. 

